Determination leads to success for Harvest valedictorian Varnell

CORTNEY MARTIN

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 16, 2002

It would be unlike Kristel Varnell to set a goal for herself and not put all of her energy toward reaching it.

As a high school freshman, she put her focus on academics, aiming to graduate at the top of her class. Four years later, she is Harvest Christian Academy's 2002 valedictorian and the perfect example of someone who works hard for her success.

"Ever since I was a freshman, I wanted to be the top student in my class," Varnell said. "I was in sports and other activities, so it was a little hard at times. Getting there definitely took me a lot of late nights of homework and studying."

By keeping her priorities in line, Varnell was able to reach her academic goals and still enjoy what school had to offer her outside the classroom. A competitive athlete since she was in the sixth grade, Varnell found time to take a break from her studies on school athletic teams.

During her senior year alone, she was co-captain of the volleyball team, captain of the basketball team and a member of the softball team. While commitments to such demanding activities might be stressful for some students, they provided the perfect balance in Varnell's life.

She rounded out her senior-year schedule by taking on leadership positions in two other school activities. As vice-president of the Student Council and president of the National Honor Society she handled tasks that only someone with her level of responsibility could.

All throughout high school, Varnell kept her grade point average in top shape, adding points to it by enrolling in challenging classes, like Advanced Placement English. She put her best effort forward in all classes, but admits that AP English was one of her favorites.

"I had a really great teacher in that class. I was very close to her and could talk to her any time I needed help or had a problem," Varnell said of Harvest teacher Jan Martindale.

English may have been one of her best subjects in high school, but her future plans include more science-related endeavors. Varnell intends to pursue a career in nursing, and although she cannot pinpoint exactly what sparked her interest in that field, the idea of helping people has always appealed to her.

She will begin working toward her career very soon, as she is due to leave for college in just over one month. As a student at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Varnell will have the opportunity to further her education in preparation for a successful career.

Although she certainly had her choice of outstanding colleges, Varnell decided that Mary Hardin-Baylor was the best fit for her educational needs. Her grandmother is a graduate of the school, and Varnell visited the campus on more than one occasion before choosing it for a four-year commitment.

"I wanted to go to a Christian school. I also wanted to go away from home for college, but I didn't want to go somewhere so far that I couldn't come home pretty often," Varnell explained.

The small private university, located in Belton, TX, is offering her more than $35,000 for the next four years, and she could not be more excited to accept it. Varnell is looking forward to college, but she knows the transition may not be an easy one.

Varnell does not know anyone who will be attending the school with her, so she admits to being a little nervous about making friends with a whole new group of people. Her graduating class was a tight-knit one, with only 15 students.

The enthusiasm for her classes and activities that has made high school so enjoyable, however, is likely to make her college years just as successful. She will gain independence and an even greater sense of responsibility, two important skills for life.

Until she has to pack for college, Varnell is making the most of her summer. She enjoyed working as a church camp counselor earlier this summer and remains involved with youth activities at Bayshore Baptist Church in La Porte. Varnell and her family have been members there since she was in kindergarten.

The daughter of Mike and Shirley Varnell, she is the younger of two sisters. Varnell's older sister, Elecia, is a 2000 graduate of Harvest Christian Academy. Both sisters attended Harvest for the majority of their time in school, and Varnell thanks her mother for making that a possibility.

"My mom made a lot of sacrifices to keep me and my sister in school at Harvest," said Varnell, who began attending Harvest as a fifth-grader. "My parents would have been fine with it if we had decided we wanted to go to public school, but I really liked being in private school."

Undoubtedly, the influence of her family, friends and former teachers will stay with Varnell as she adapts to life in college. The years ahead may promise new challenges and opportunities, but the values and sense of determination Varnell learned from those closest to her will remain as strong as they have always been.

If you know of a PISD or Pasadena private school student who is well-rounded, outgoing and dedicated to his or her studies, send a nomination to Student of the Week, c/o Pasadena Citizen, P.O. Box 6192, Pasadena, TX, 77506, or fax to (713) 477-4172. Please be sure to include his or her name, school, grade level, phone number, and a summary of activities and accomplishments.